Man discovers his dog shot dead on doorstep

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a 53-year-old man reportedly found his dog shot dead on his porch Monday afternoon.

The man told deputies he heard a single gunshot about 3:30 p.m. near his house in the 3800 block of Charles Place, which is near Interstate 75 not far from the intersection of Pio Nono Avenue and Rocky Creek Road, according to a Bibb County sheriff's incident report. When the man walked outside a few minutes later, he discovered his black pitbull, which had been chained to a tree in the yard, was lying lifeless on his doorstep, the report said. The man told deputies he found a small bullet hole just below the head on the dog's nape.

A neighbor down the street also told deputies she heard a gunshot about the same time. When the neighbor looked out her window, she saw a tall black man who appeared to be in his 20s, standing near her trash cans just in front of the dog owner's home, according to the report. She said she saw the man point toward the dog owner's home, put something in his waistband and flee toward Frances Drive, according to the report. An exit wound was not immediately found on the dog. The incident is being investigated.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.